Well, if the National Two Spools (as I posted earlier) is not for you then there are the various vintage chain stitch machines which do not require a bobbin (like a Wilcox & Gibbs, Singer model 12 & various other vintage models) because they sew a chain stitch instead of a lock stitch.

Go here: http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...t186496-5.html and check out the photos of the chain stitch made by my Wilcox & Gibbs.

There are other various vintage machines like the Singer 630 which has a 'spider' attachment. In a 'spider' install, you remove your bobbin, insert a round plate in the bobbin area, add an additional thread guide - the only thread used is thread from your spool which then creates a chain stitch.

Shari

If we can send a man to the moon, and a robot to Mars, surely there is a dedicated tinkerer out there who needs to make a kazillion bucks making something EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US WOULD BUY!!!!...isn't there? I think I'll talk to my OSMG and see what he thinks...:)

Ahh National Two Spool. My dream machine. Man Your W&G makes a fine chain! Congrats

I have wondered for years why someone doesn't invent a machine that uses a spool of thread for the bobbin.

Every seamstress I know has wished for a bobbinless machine. I've always wondered why, given the explosion of technology, no one has invented one.

Scroll down a bit on this page to see the animations explaining how a stitch is made: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewing_machine

My sentiments, exactly! We obvioiusly need to put a woman in charge of this project.

My machine's noise changes slightly when I am running low on bobbin thread. So when I start hearing this more of a rattly noise I know I am low and watch. I bet if some of you really pay close attention you too, will find your machine makes a slightly different noise when bobbin thread is low. My LA also makes a different noise when bobbin is running low. So I am never really surprised when I run out. Yes I have stitched maybe a few inches without immediately realizing but for the most part I know.

Additionally if you load your bobbin with Superior bottom line brand it will last for a very, very long time as the thread is so fine a lot more fits on the bobbin.

I for one would not upgrade my machine for a setup that pulls bobbin straight from a spool of thread. There is a reason we should go into the bobbin race area every couple of bobbin fulls. It's called cleaning and oiling your machine.

I have started useing pre-wound bobbins because my machins is stubborn about winding bobbins and the prewound ones hold so much more thread. I was using one one day at a class they the others gave me a hard time about it saying the thread in them is inferior but I havn't had a problem with them. The first ones I bought seemed to be nylon or polester so I order cotton ones from Connecting Threads and really love them. They save tons of time and aggrivation. That my favorite new find..

Another reason why a spool won't work: The thread pick up arm, the part that goes up and down with the top thread, would need to be much longer in order for the thread to be relaxed enough to go all the way around the big spool bobbin, and then it needs to pull the thread tight again to get the tension on the stitch correct.

And if you use a chain stitch, you are using three layers of thread, instead of two. And the bends in the thread would cause a problem also, I would think. You would get a whole different fit to your pattern parts with all the extra thread in every seam.